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Why the Smartphone Isn't Mainstream ... Yet

It's been around for less than a decade, but the smartphone is already incredibly common in the U.S. However, studies tell us that only 45% of adults in the U.S use a smartphone.

Owning a smart device continues to become mainstream with family spending being redistributed towards phone-related spending rather than other entertainment spending. The apps being released today are different from apps that were made a few years ago — they're becoming an organic extension of a person's lifestyle, and thus more relevant.

You don't need to go further than the coffee line at the corner shop to observe the growth of smartphone use in the U.S. The same trends hold worldwide — but with some variations in hardware.

Users of the Android operating system enjoy the largest selection of apps — 700,000, a full 100,000 more than users on iOS with Windows trailing at only 100,000 total. Apple currently manufactures only 16.9% of smartphones globally, compared to Samsung's 32.9%.

What smartphone stat surprised you the most? Do you know anyone who hasn't made the jump from a regular cell phone to a smartphone yet?

Mashable
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